Assigrnob to bdwasd



Jan. 80, 1923.

1. LEDWINKA. CHANNEL STRUCTURE FOR TONNEAU PANELS.

FILED FEB. 27, ISIB.

Patented Jan. 30, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JUSEPl-L LEDWlNKA, OF PHILADELPHIA. PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO EDWARD G.

BUDD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR-PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CHANNEL STRUCTURE FOR TON'NEAU PANELS.

Application filed February 27, 1919. Serial No. 279,591.

'1'0 (11! whom it may cmwern Be it known that I, Josue Lnnwmna, aeitizen of the United States, residing at. Philadelphia, in the countyof Philadelphia.

State of Pennsylvania, have made a certain.

new and useful invention in Channel Structures for Tonneau Panels (Case1)), of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to channel StlllP- tures for tonnean panels, andparticularly to the structure for channels employed at the upper edge ofa tonneau or seat back panel for automobiles.

The object of the invention is to provide a channel structure for theupper edge of a tonnean or seat bark panel which is strong and durable,neat and sightly and allords a distinctive finish for such upper edge.and at the same time forming a conwrnient means for the application andattaehnient of the upholstery to the panel.

Further objeets'ot the invention will ppear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the eonstruetion. combination,location, and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fullyhereinafter set forth, as shown in the aeeompanying drawing. and linallypointed out in the appended-elaims.

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of an automobile tonneau or seat barkpanel having a ehannel strueture applied thereto in accordance with nrinvention.

Fig. 2 is a brokefi view in vertical section through the upper edge ofthe panel on the line X, X, Fig. 1f

Figs. 3, 4. 5, ti and 7, are views similar to Fig. 2 showingunodifiedehannel strurtures embodyipg my int ention.

In the drz iwing ireference numeral :3 designates a tonneau o1" seatbark panel for auto-- mobiles. This paiiel may be of any suitablematerial, anil may be bent or stamped to any desired shliiie, Style oroutline. sheet steel panel C'ell fserves the purpose. .\t. its upperedge ,iihe piinel 5 is bent or oilset outwardly as, dieated at (S, Aehannel member is app led in aeeordanee with my invention to e uplperedge of the panel. This rhannel member may be of various shapes ordesigns and may be applied in various ays to the upper edge of the panelwithin T of the pane] bent or folded over inwardly upon itself toreeeive within the fold thereof one edge R of a ehannel member 9 in theForm oil a stamping of substantially U- shape in i-ross section, saidedge H being re- ('eived in the seat formed by the oilset portion ll ofthe panel and on the interior sui" fare thereof. The edge 7, as aboveexplained. is folded. inwardly over the edge H of the channel member. Inthis ease the channel or open side of the channel inenr her 9 faresupwardly but is disposed below the e'fvtreme upper edge of the panel andaffords a seat in which the upper portion of the upholstery or cushionmay be reeeived.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 the upper edge of the panel. inaddition to the oli'set portion (3 thereof, is formed with a furtheroffset portion 10 above the offset U, thhreby forming a partial seatingfor the base oi' the U-shaped (-hannel member 9. in other respeets thestructure shown in Fig. 3 is substantially the same as that of Fig. 2.in the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 in pl ol' a channel member of U-shapein i'ross serlion the member ll is employed having one edge thereof bentor turned angularly and presenting dou 'nwardly. as indirated at 1:3,the other edge being received within a fold formed by bending over theedge portion ill of the panel above the offset (3 therein. in this easethe portion 13 is first bent laterally outwardly from the oil'setportion (v as indicated at 14 and then over inwardly to form a toldwithin which the edge of the member this received. said edge of memberll and the folds 13. 14 being suitably sei-ured together by welding orotherwise. in this ease the, z'hannel in whieh the upper edge of theupholstery is rereived is an inverted rhannel. :The outward and lateralextension formed by the portions 14, 13, in the upper edge of the panelconstitutes a smooth and sightly finish for the upper edge o l theionneau.

The strurture shown in Fig. 5 is identical with that shown in Fig. 4except that the bent or angle portion 12 of member 11 faces upwardlyinstead of downwardly. In this case the cushion or upholstery connectionis made in the upwardly facing channel.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 6 a channel member 15 of ovlindricalshape in cross sevtion is employed, one edge thereof heing reoeiveil andfastened within the fold formed by bending the eilgc iii of the panelabove the offset ll over and inwardly and ilownwardiy upon itself. inthis case the open channei in which the upholster or cushion is receivedfaces; upwardly.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. T a member 17 is employed similar tomcinlier 11 of the structures shown in Figs. -l and .3 except that theangle portion In at on edge thereof is engaged inside a foliled overflange 19 at the upper eilgc of the panel, the two flanges 1H. 19 beingsecureil together liy welding or otherwise.

From the foregoing description it will he seen that I provide anexceedingly simple structure. economical to nianuiiwture for the channelrim at the upper edge of a tonncau or seat backpanei which may he eanilapplied iglul which etliciently accomplishea tne purimses of aflorilinga eonvcnicnt seating or the upper portion of the cushion or up holster cand atthe same time affording "a neat and bigzhtly appearancei \Vhat Iclaim as new and useful anil of my own invention and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:--

l. The combination with a sheet metal panel hent or stamped into theahapc am! curvature to form the sides and hack of a tonneau or seat,nnil having the upper ciln'e thereof folded over upon itself. of anupholstery attaching nien her longitiolinally curved to conform to thecurvature of the panel and having one eil c lhereo't rem-inn] andsecured within the lolil of .saiil flange.

2. The combination with a ehect metal panol bent or stampe l into theshape and curruture to form the sides and hack of av tonneau or seat,and having an outwardly offset portion at the upper edge thereof. andterminating in & flange bent or turned over upon itself, of anupholstery attaching inem her longitudinally curved to conform to thecurvature of the panel, and having one edge thereof ll''vifl l withinthe foli'i of said llan ge portion.

ll. The conihination with a sheet metal panel hent or Hittilig'flii intothe shape and curvature to toim the sieles :lIHi hack of a tonneau orHZll. and having a llang 'e at its upper ttlgfl' hem or folded inwardlyover upon itself. ol' :1 channei shaped uphoistery attaching nicniherlongitudinally curveil to conform to the curvature ol' the panel. ainlhailing one ilg'e thercol' received :unl accnrcil within the fold otSillll flange. the channel of naiii inenilier hein; tllfiUUHttl l clowthe extreme upper eilge ot' the t'olaled flange portion ol the panel.

i. The conihination with a sheet metal panel hcnt or stampeal into theshape ainl curvatin'e to form the iliith aml hack of a tonneau or scat.anal having a flange at its upper edge licni or l'olileil inwardly oi'erupon it:-elt. of a channel shapeil upholstery iilliHlllliQ inenilicrlongitudinally cui'vcil to conform to the curvature ol' the panel andhaving our wine thcreot' l'li iYlli :nnl cureil within lhc lohl ofHtlltl liang 'e. the channel ol -\aiil incln'ncr heing lllbllfllritlllielow the extreme upper mine of the l llltilll flange portion of thepanel and presenting upwardly.

5. The coinhination with a sheet metal panel bent or atainpcil into theshape and curvature to l'orni the fiitl s and back of a tonneau or seatand having its upper eilgze hent laterally outwardly and thence over andinuarilly upon itself of an upholstery attaching nn-mher longitudinallycurved to contoriu to the curvature of the panel and having one clle'ethcreol' l'eccii'eil within the toll! f snhl flange and seating upon theHuil aci ol' the outer lateral henil thereof.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto set mv hanil on this 24th day ofFehruarv iii 1).. one.

J on urn L'EDWIN KA.

